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‘It’s a time for unity’

Veterans honored at Besser Museum on Veterans Day

Maj. Gen. Burt Francisco, right, speaks while Bill Romstadt and Frank Rosinski listen at the News Photo by Julie Goldberg Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan’s event on Veterans Day. Francisco was the keynote speaker for the event.

ALPENA — On Sunday, veterans, friends and families gathered at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan to observe Veterans Day.

Maj. Gen. Burt Francisco said Veterans Day is a day when Americans should take time on the 11th month on the 11th day at the 11th hour to take a pause and remember veterans and what they have done for everyone over the lifetime of the country.

“Americans should be grateful for what our veterans have done and it’s a time for unity and people need to unite to get together to say. ‘This is the greatest country on earth,'” Francisco said. “We do have a special way of life that is rare across the world, so that’s really what Veterans Day is and it’s because of the veterans that we are able to live this way.”

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I in 1918. In 1954, the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans from all wars. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans — living or dead — and gives thanks to living veterans who served the country during war or peacetime, according to The History Channel.

Frank Rosinski of the Marine Corps League said Veterans Day is about recognizing him and his follow comrades who have served and making sure they are not forgotten.

Francisco said Veterans Day is a day where people need to take pause, to remember veterans and to remember that freedom is not free and comes with a sacrifice.

“That’s what today is for, is to recognize all veterans, currently serving our members of the Armed Forces and those who served in the past and the sacrifices that they have done so that we can all enjoy the freedoms of living in this great society that we live in today,” Francisco said.

People were at the Besser Museum in 30-degree weather and Rosinski said it was nice to see people come out in cold weather to support veterans.

“I was in that Vietnam era when we weren’t too well liked and just having people come out to recognize the veterans, I think that it’s great,” he said. “We’re really appreciative of people that took the time and came out in this cold weather.”

Francisco said veterans have sacrificed and to have people come out in cold weather conditions to pay their respects and honor the veterans is humbling to him.

Francisco was honored during the ceremony with the Veteran of the Year Award from the Veterans Council. He said he was surprised, but also honored to receive the recognition.

“It’s because of all the other veterans that I consider myself to be in that very elite group, a very special group, and to be recognized here in Alpena is truly humbling,” Francisco said. “I don’t know what else to say. I’m very grateful to be considered and to be selected.”

Francisco was selected as Veteran of the Year for everything that he has done for veterans, Rosinski said.

“It’s for everything that the General’s done for veterans in the area and we appreciate it,” Rosinski said.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5688.

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